Clinton Shepherd to PSU
- Thread starter El_Jefe
- Start date
Freestyle. A little different. Impressive that he beat Joy in that style, but the win that has everyone so excited about Joy (Larkin) was definitely a folk victory and I would think twice or even three times before picking Joy over Larkin in freestyle.
Bassett also failed to beat Stanich twice this past year in freestyle . Stanich who is a fine wrestler and an AA, but I think he’s top 5ish at 141, rather than wrestling on Saturday night, although I could be wrong.
Point is, the mat matters in college, and while Bo’s freestyle chops have shown he would probably be a consistent AA in college right now he will likely have to take another step to wrestle on Saturday night. Just like PJ and Marcus, it remains to be seen if they have done that yet, but they are in the right room to do it as freshman And they are better prospects than Bo.
The other thing about Bassett -- and we saw this with Mason Gibson too, so it might be a broader McCortism:
He wins by suffocating pace. He can make overaggressive and/or sloppy mistakes, but gets away with it due to his pace. Most opponents haven't experienced that pace and/or aren't skilled enough to cope.
But he's vulnerable to guys who can match or neutralize his pace (Blaze, Stanich, etc.). And to someone who might have that one big move in his arsenal, like when Jaret Lane headlocked Teasdale at states.
He's gonna face those guys much more frequently in college. Up to him to adapt.
Of course he is not going to wrestle all 4 years at VATech. Nicolls will be calling him despite the little falling out this summer. A cool million for that last year.
Bassett’s pace reminds me of Desanto in a way. More polished of course, but the same non-stop in your face style. As Jefe pointed out, most kids can’t handle it at first, but can adapt quicker and more effectively than a lot of high level HS kids. Take the RBY v. Desanto rivalry for example, RBY lost the first few times, but the score got closer and closer each time until RBY was controlling the match beginning to end. In short, Desanto failed to evolve his game and ended up in the dust. Bassett will have to adapt if he’s to reach the lofty expectations set for him.
I mean DT was still considered dominant and in contention for hodge right?
I def don’t put as much stock on freestyle results the same as folkstyle results. I know Basset def major joy in folkstyle. I was under assumption Basset beat those other college guys in the college opens he entered. I wasn’t counting freestyle results. But yeah if they were freestyle wins then def count those way less. The way Basset manhandled Joy in folkstyle and how good Joy has looked is plenty evidence for me to at Basset would do well this season.. I wouldn’t bet against him.
Like u said freestyle a little diff and people putting too much stock on Basset’s loss to Stanich in freestyle. The thing that makes Basset most dangerous is his motor and also he’s constantly Looking to improve. He’s probably gotten better since his match with Joy.
DeSanto is an excellent comp, at least stylistically.
We tend to underrate how good he was. He beat so many NCAA champs and finalists: RBY, Fix, Gross, Micic, Byrd, Suriano, Gomez, Lovett, Lizak, Mueller at least. That doesn't happen by accident.
But more often that not, his results got worse in rematches. And he never made a finals himself. The rest of college wrestling adjusted.
Bassett would do well to learn that lesson.
He's gonna go next year. That's why VT shirted Henson this year.
